1.0.5.8 (attention: prayer files from versions prior to 1.0.0.9 aren't compatible with later versions of the program; If you currently have v1.0.1.1 or earlier installed, please manually install version 1.0.5.8 after uninstalling any previous version. From now on, you should be able to update from within the program as usual. If you have v1.0.1.2 or later installer, you should be able to download the updated installer from within your currently running program.)

I realize that there are relatively few Christianity adherents here. Nevertheless, for those of us who are, I believe that this program offers something valuable. I began thinking about writing this application several weeks ago, after a series of conversations with my pastor in which we discussed how it's often difficult to concentrate while trying to pray. We've also discussed the need for a tool that acts as a prayer reminder, and one that can track written prayers and offer search functionality. Finally, we wanted a tool that allows the user to come back at a later time to a prayer and offer thoughts/insights into prayer-answers, or meditations on the prayer itself. This tool will also, in future updates, allow the user to customize prompts and prompt-frequencies for various types of prayer (praise, intercession, supplication, etc.) The program could also be used to store diary/journal entries, although that isn't its intended purpose.

Screencast

Features

built-in CHM Help file

pray at the speed of typing (for me, that's about 85 wpm)

enter author, and any related tags to help in future searches (or omit them)

main form features fantastic background images, many of them by J. R. Bell

twelve fore-/back-color schemes for the "My Prayers" panel

option to launch application when Windows starts

ten in-depth articles on prayer-related topics

articles on spiritual disciplines, and the Biblical plan of salvation

ability to print the article, or whatever portion of its text is selected

instead of saving with date and title, let it default to whatever the title of the prayer is. Come tomorrow, I won't be able to tell by the file name, what the prayer concern is.

@techidave: Yeah, I get your drift. The reason the files are auto-named based upon the date-time, rather than prompting the user with a SaveFileDialog, is that it will make it very easy later to implement a search-by-date function. The "Title" field (see screenshot) below, is meant to allow you to give a memorable title to the prayer.

But I think I see where I could make it more user-friendly: currently, when you click the Load button, you see this:

What would be nicer is if you saw a list of the prayers you've saved, by their "Title" field:

Am I understanding correctly?

Quote

is it possible to use the arrow keys to "scroll" through the list of concerns? instead of actually having to 'load" each one.

I've fixed the first: you can now name your own files; I'll also be providing your second wish, such that you'll be able to scroll through a listing of all saved prayer files, and see, at a glance, the filename, author, tags associated with the file currently highlighted in a listbox.

Okay, I've fulfilled both your feature requests, techidave. Now I've only to re-work the Search algorithm, and I'll be ready with v1.0.0.7. Best estimate is that it'll get uploaded in the next few hours, though possibly not until sometime Sunday.

Okay, techidave and several others who have emailed me via the program's email button in the About dialog, thanks for your patience. The next version is almost ready for download. I just need to tie some code into the SelectedIndexChanged event of the lstSearchResults ListBox, so that as you scroll through entries, you'll be presented with filename, tags, author. Should be back sometime tomorrow with an announcement that it's okay to update to the newest version.

v1.0.0.8 is released! Please update using the Update button from the program's About dialog to download the installer for the updated version (no need to uninstall previous version: the installer will overwrite it, and any application data will be preserved).

See OP for additional features that have been added. At some point I'll be doing (hopefully) a video showing how the rebuilt Search feature is most robust/powerful.

@techidave: both your requests have been fulfilled. Here's a screenshot of the Search results. You can scroll through the results ListBox to view pertinent data associated with the selected prayer file. You can double-click the item to Load the prayer for further editing:

Version 1.0.1.1 is available. This version requires the uninstall of the previous version (v1.0.0.9) and manual install of the new version. The reason for this is that I changed some code in the methods that check for an available update and download an available file. You will be able to update to v1.0.1.2 and later version from the program's Update menu item.

Version 1.0.1.4 is available. It adds additional color schemes, the articles are presented more succinctly, with the option to print or write-to-file the entire article, or selected portions of it, Windows Registry is not used. However, file size did not decrease because I wound up not eliminating some resources I'd thought I might.

replaced the Ctrl-+/Ctrl-minus key combination for changing font sizes with a dropdown combo box under the options menu. The program will correctly apply the desired font to a new prayer you're typing, or to a saved prayer you've just loaded.

added a read-only textbox at the same level as the top-level menu items. It is populated at form-load, and shows the total number of prayer files found in the MyPrayers directory, and their combined file sizes.

fixed a bug wherein color schemes that call for a bold font got reset to FontStyle.Regular when the "Click here..." text was clicked to begin a New Prayer.

updated the TabIndex for the MyPrayers controls, so that the color-scheme-chooser combobox is part of the tab order

Duh: I'd lost my entire menu system a few days ago. Apparently, in the process of restoring from backup and filling in any gaps, I overlooked the Save Prayer menu item. Sure, the Save button was still there, but still...

@panzer: I assume you mean allow the user to select an MP3 that'll run asynchronously as s/he uses the program? (that's do-able). Or do you want a startup trill? Or both features? Anyone else want music capability?